Trump's Reported Offer to Sell US Weapons to China Sparks Confusion

The story began when the US ambassador to China publicly stated that President Trump had offered Chinese President Xi Jinping an opportunity to buy American weapons. This claim was made in the context of ongoing discussions over a US arms sale to Taiwan, a deal that has long angered Beijing, according to DER SPIEGEL.

The ambassador's remarks suggested that Trump made the offer during a visit by Xi Jinping to the White House. The context was reportedly an attempt to explain or justify the US's continued arms sales to Taiwan, which China opposes.

On September 28, 2026, multiple outlets reported the ambassador's claim. Sky News and The Hindu both described the ambassador's assertion that Trump had directly asked Xi if China wanted to buy US weapons. The claim quickly attracted attention because it would represent a dramatic break from longstanding US policy.

Later that day, the US State Department and other officials pushed back against the ambassador's account. Arab News reported that the State Department refuted the claim, citing laws that ban US arms sales to China. Other outlets, including NDTV, said President Trump himself denied making the offer during a press interaction.

Despite the denials, Trump reportedly told reporters that China would "probably like to buy" American weapons, though he insisted he had not discussed the matter with Xi, as The Hill described. Analysts quoted by Al Jazeera called the idea strategically implausible and suggested it may reflect Trump's personal style rather than official US policy.

The conflicting statements have left the precise details of the conversation unclear. The incident quickly became a point of diplomatic sensitivity, given the strained US-China relationship and the ongoing controversy over arms sales to Taiwan.

As of now, US officials maintain that there are no plans to sell weapons to China. President Trump and the State Department have both denied the ambassador's claim, and existing US law prohibits such sales.

The White House and the State Department are continuing to clarify the context and content of the discussion. The matter has highlighted the potential for confusion when high-level diplomatic conversations are described differently by officials.

It remains to be seen whether further details about the Trump-Xi conversation will emerge or if any official records will clarify what was said. The episode could also prompt renewed scrutiny of US arms sales policy and the communication strategies of senior diplomats.